RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Tech women's volleyball team closed out the GAC/MIAA Crossover with a 3-1 victory over Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Suns (7-5) responded after playing well in two losses Friday, defeating the Gorillas (0-11) by scores of 25-10, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17. Freshman Hunter Eshnaur, who earned all-tournament team honors, led the team with 15 kills and added 13 digs and two aces. Middles Katie Huff and McCall Wilkins were solid as well, with Huff hitting .524 with 12 kills, three aces, four blocks and six digs. Wilkins put up a season-high 11 kills and hitting .391.
"Overall I was pleased with the way we played this weekend," coach Kristy Bayer said. "Our best match was last night against Central Missouri, and today against Pitt State there were some really good things. Sarita Stegall had a really good weekend and did a great job of delivering our offense, and played good defense as well. Our middles played really well today against Pitt State and were able to dominate offensively."
Tech got off to a stellar start in its first-set victory, hitting .357 as a team with just three errors. Huff hit 1.000 in the game with four kills on four attempts and added two blocks and two digs. Eshnaur and Kaylee Konsella each posted three kills, while the freshman Stegall dished out 11 of her 44 total assists toward her GAC/MIAA All-Tournament team honors.
The Suns took a 3-2 lead early and never gave it back, but really pulled away after the Gorillas pulled to within 6-4. From that point, Tech scored nine straight points and 15 of the next 17 to take a commanding lead, getting a pair of aces from sophomore Madison Nagel during the 9-0 run to help spur the offense. Pitt State scored three straight late to extend the set, but an Eshnaur kill brought it to an end.
A 4-0 start to the second set got the Suns off on the right foot, with a kill and an ace from Huff propelling the run. The Gorillas hit .000 for the set, providing Tech points on eight attack errors. The hosts hit .250, getting three kills from Wilkins, two of which came during a key 8-1 run that made it 22-10. Huff pitched in with two kills and two more blocks while Eshnaur and sophomore Haley Owen each added a pair of kills.
Pitt State found some momentum in the tight third set. The two sides battled for the first half of the game with neither side holding a lead larger than two points until the Gorillas scored three straight to go up 17-13. The guests held that lead throughout a challenge from the Suns, increasing the advantage to five at 20-15 and 21-16. Three kills and an ace from Eshnaur helped get it back to a one-point deficit and an Owen kill tied it up at 22-all before a block from Owen and Wilkins gave the Suns the lead for the first time since 11-10. However, the Gorillas rallied for the final three points of the set to avoid the sweep.
Tech got back on track in the fourth set, going up 6-1 thanks to a pair of kills from Konsella and Huff. The Golden Suns dominated the rest of the way, leading by four or more points for the remainder of the set. The Golden Suns scored the final four points with Huff being involved in each point, recording two aces, a kill and an assist. Stegall and Nagel each added six digs while Wilkins posted four kills on six swings.
"Now we're focusing our efforts on preparing for Tuesday against Harding," Bayer said. "We had a chance to see them here this weekend, and they're going to be a challenge."
The Suns face off against the Bisons at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night for Pack The Stands Night at Tucker Coliseum.
GAC/MIAA Crossover All-Tournament Team
Hunter Eshnaur, Arkansas Tech, Freshman, OH
Sarita Stegall, Arkansas Tech, Freshman, S
Abbey Bell, Southern Nazarene, Junior, DS/OH
Courtney Bowie, Southern Nazarene, Junior, MB/Opp.
Zoe Hardin, Harding, Freshman, MB
Molly Howard, Harding, Senior, OH
Liz Powell, Washburn, Senior, S
Annie Reilly, Central Missouri, Senior, L
Carly Sojka, Central Missouri, Senior, OH
Leanna Willer, Washburn, Junior, OH
Taylor Wright, Pittsburg State, Junior, OH/DS
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